The countdown to Molokai 2013 is on, with limited registrations now open up for the prestigious channel crossing.

This is the 17th annual edition of the Molokai-2-Oahu, an event that started back in 1997 as a prone paddleboarding race but that has now grown into a true paddleboarding World Championship, with SUP taking as much limelight as the prone divisions in recent years.

For those somehow unfamiliar with Molokai, it’s a gruelling, 32 mile, open ocean race between the islands of Molokai and Oahu in Hawaii. This is the event that Jamie Mitchell won 10x years straight in the prone division, and which has been dominated by the likes of Connor Baxter and Dave Kalama on the Stand Up side of the draw. The 2013 Molokai-2-Oahu is set for July 28 and will no doubt be the biggest event yet.

Can Connor Baxter make it a three-peat, or will paddlers such as Danny Ching or Travis Grant (regulars in the Molokai outrigger events) make an appearance and steal the glory? And will Talia Gangini defend her title in the women’s, or can Andrea Moller reclaim her crown?

No matter what happens, we’ll keep you updated with live coverage of Molokai 2013 right here on SUPracer.com. In the meantime take a look at the teaser vid from last year or relive the 2012 Molokai-2-Oahu SUP Race results.

There’s also plenty more on the official site…